Wetangula tells NTSA time to pack and leave as road carnage escalates

NAIROBI, Kenya Dec 13 – Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula has called for a reconstitution of the National Transport and Safety Authority following recent wave of road accidents that has claimed the lives of at least 70 people in a span of 72 hours.

While citing Tuesday’s horrific Sachangwan incident that claimed the lives of at least 32 people, Wetangula who faulted the transport agency for its action that of chasing the truck that is reported to have caused the multiple crashes after it lost control and rammed into other vehicles, said Director Francis Meja and his team should be sent packing.

On Monday 19 people perished at Kamukuywa bridge in Bungoma following a bus accident in a multiple accident.

“The CEO’s act of justifying his officers action is reckless and if he cannot reconsider his position he should be sacked forthwith because he has proved time and again to be unable to handle his responsibilities,” said Wetangula.

Wetangula who also decried on the rising cases of road carnage on Kenyan roads challenged President Uhuru Kenyatta and the courts to take stern action against individuals found violating traffic regulations.

“The President should act and Kenyans want to see action. The President should steadily act and save lives of Kenyans and go back to what the late Michuki did to bring sanity to our roads and within two months, Kenyan matatu operators and drivers as the most disciplined in this country,” said Wetangula.

But even as calls for a change of leadership at the transport agency continues to take shape, NTSA has since absolved itself of any wrongdoing saying its quick intervention before the accident along the Salgaa-Sachangwan stretch saved a lot of lives.

Meja indicated that they had been conducting patrols in the area and after flagging down a bus that had been overtaking carelessly, a trailer passed at a very high speed hitting the bumps ahead tilting it’s container.

He pointed out that its officers suspected the brakes to have failed and a team was dispatched with strobe lights and sirens on to warn motorists and pedestrians to clear the way.

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“They were alerted by the noise of some hawkers who normally sell around that market of Sachangwan. They were told that there is a vehicle that has lost control and is going downhill. It is then that the officers followed the vehicle and when they realised that it had lost control, they switched on the sirens and the strobe lights,” he said. “One officer had his hand out of the window to warn motorists who heeded his call and moved out of the way.”

At least 32 people died following the accident that involved 13 vehicles and President Uhuru Kenyatta directed the police and other law enforcement agencies to step up their efforts to ensure motorists obey traffic safety rules and regulations during this Christmas and New Year season.

Speaking during the 54th Jamhuri Day Celebrations, the President regretted the carnage that has so far been reported on roads and highways.

He called on motorists to exercise caution and observe road safety especially during this festive season.

On Monday night, 19 people were killed in another accident at Kamukuywa Bridge in Bungoma when a Public Service Vehicle traveling from Kisumu to Kitale rammed into a tractor.